By Luna Ravenwood · Updated August 3, 2026
Divination and Dreams Guide
Quick Answer
In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot tradition, King of Pentacles is a Suit of Pentacles card numbered 14 corresponding to Air of Earth. Upright it speaks to abundance, prosperity, security; reversed it mirrors greed, materialism, financial loss. The archetype pairs with Green Aventurine for grounded reflection, not prediction.
Upright Keywords
Reversed Keywords
King of Pentacles Upright Meaning
The King of Pentacles sits on a throne decorated with bulls, surrounded by vines and castles, the Midas figure who has built enduring material wealth through discipline and wisdom. This card mirrors financial mastery and the ability to create lasting security.
In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot tradition, this card is read through three reference works. According to Rachel Pollack in Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom (1980), King of Pentacles functions as one station in the deck’s unified literary sequence. Arthur Edward Waite in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910) describes the original symbolism Pamela Colman Smith painted into the card. Mary K. Greer in Tarot for Your Self (1984) describes the upright meaning as the archetypal opening, the question the card offers, not the verdict it delivers.
King of Pentacles Reversed Meaning
Reversed, the King's abundance becomes greed, wealth pursued at the expense of everything else. The King of Pentacles reversed asks: what are you sacrificing for security? Is the price worth it?
Today’s Guidance
“Lead with practical wisdom today. The King of Pentacles says: true wealth is built through discipline, generosity, and patience.”
Morning Intention
Set an intention aligned with material world, finances, health, and physical reality. The King of Pentacles asks you to be present with this energy today.
Midday Reflection
Notice how the energy of material world, finances, health, and physical reality has shown up for you today. What has this card's message revealed?
Evening Release
Release today's weight. Hold your Green Aventurine and let the day's lessons settle without forcing conclusions.
“I create lasting abundance. My prosperity serves my life, not the other way around.”
Crystal Companion: Green Aventurine
Green Aventurine resonates with the material world, finances, health, and physical reality that the Pentacles suit embodies.
Green Aventurine
A sparkling green stone of luck, opportunity, and heart-centered abundance.
Astrological Correspondence
The Suit of Pentacles corresponds to the element of Earth, and the zodiac signs Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
The Pentacles suit corresponds to the Earth signs, Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Each numbered card represents a decan of one of these signs. Pentacles mirror body, money, work, and material form.
Card Details
Number
14
Suit
Suit of Pentacles
Element
🌿 Earth
Astrology
Air of Earth
Neighbouring Cards
King of Pentacles in Love, Career, Finance
The same archetype mirrors different territory depending on the question. Read how King of Pentacles meets specific dimensions of your life.
What’s Next?
Three good directions while King of Pentacles is in the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the King of Pentacles tarot card mean?
In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot tradition, the King of Pentacles is a Suit of Pentacles card corresponding to Air of Earth. Upright it speaks to abundance, prosperity, security; reversed it mirrors greed, materialism, financial loss.
What crystal pairs with the King of Pentacles?
Green Aventurine is the crystal companion for the King of Pentacles. Green Aventurine resonates with the material world, finances, health, and physical reality that the Pentacles suit embodies.
Is the King of Pentacles a yes or no card?
In yes-or-no readings, the King of Pentacles answers yes. The King of Pentacles represents the pinnacle of material success and wise stewardship. The answer is a confident yes, especially for financial matters.
What does the King of Pentacles mean reversed?
Reversed, the King's abundance becomes greed, wealth pursued at the expense of everything else. The King of Pentacles reversed asks: what are you sacrificing for security? Is the price worth it?
How to Read a Spread
Luna Ravenwood's free guide: the structure of the deck, three spreads and what each is for, the three schools of reversals, and how to read for yourself without flattering yourself.
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